Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor to take over as Army Vice Chief

New Delhi, Dec 30 (UNI) Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor is to take over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff at the Army Head Quarters here on January 1 next, it was officially announced today.

Lt Gen Kapoor succeeds Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman who retires later this month.

Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on June 11, 1967 and has held important Staff and Command appointments in his almost 40-year-long career so far.

An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, he has done the Higher Command and National Defence College courses. In addition, he has represented the country as the Chief Operations Officer for all United Nations Forces deployed in Somalia from 1994 to 1995 for which he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in January 1996.

Also, the General Officer has taken active part in the 1971 Operations launched for the liberation of Bangladesh.

During his service as a Brigade Commander deployed on the Line of Control in Jammu&Kashmir, the General Officer was awarded the Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty) in January 1998.

He commanded one of the most prestigious divisions of the Indian Army, the RAM Division, as part of a Strike Corps during Operation Parakram.

He has been the Chief of Staff of 4 Corps in the North East fighting insurgency in Assam and thereafter has commanded 33 Corps, deployed on the Sino-Indian border. For his excellent command of the Corps, the General Officer was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

On promotion, he commanded the Army Training Command at Shimla.

The General Officer has an abiding interest in self education, self improvement and acquisition of knowledge in pursuance of which, while in service and involved in professional activities, he did his Bachelors in Arts privately.

He has a Masters Degree in Political Science and a Masters degree in Military Science. He holds a diploma in Business Management and has completed his Masters in Business Administration from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

The General Officer is also an excellent sportsman and has played hockey, basketball, golf and tennis at various levels.

Lt Gen Kapoor has been in command of the Northern Army from September 5, 2005.

UNI DG MSJ DS1700